Zeljko Ivanek was the first actor to read for the part of Roland. Chris Carter was blown away and decided almost immediately to cast him.
Director David Nutter considered this the weakest of the six scripts he directed in the first season (to be fair, he had also helmed Ice (1993) (1x8) and Beyond the Sea (1994) (1x13), the two high water marks of Season 1). Nutter was thankful that he had such a strong guest actor in the form of Zeljko Ivanek to help sell in what he considered to be weaker material.
The quote paraphrased by Dr Nollette ("If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants") is commonly attributed to Sir Isaac Newton.
This was the third episode in close proximity in the first season to feature the concept of resurrection in a different body, following Lazarus (1994) (1x15) and Born Again (1994) (1x22).
Kerry Sandomirsky who appears as Tracy would go on to play the character Joanne in the season three episode 2Shy (1995).